Southampton

Sturridge: Chip!

Zeman’s system at work

4 of the 7 Roma players camped at the edge of the box combine for a great team goal, evidence of exactly the system that vintage Roma boss Zdenek Zeman has tried to install. If you want to learn more about Zeman’s attacking system this Wall Street Journal article is more or less required reading.

Here are some choice quotes:

“Do you enjoy watching soccer?” he asked in a low monotone. 

“I rarely do anymore,” he said. “I still watch because I can’t help it. I’m addicted… but it’s not the same.” Another drag. ”It’s not my world anymore.”

Zeman’s philosophy is predicated on a high-energy 4-3-3 system that’s unlike anything you’re bound to see today, mainly because it is played at a breakneck pace with wave after wave of attackers streaming forward.

“Whenever we attack, all three forwards have to be in the penalty area while two of the three midfielders come forward as well. That way the opponent is pinned back. Then you put the ball in the box, and because you have more men, you have more chances of scoring. It’s not rocket science. It’s simple math.”

“But playing for results is not the same as playing soccer—my teams play soccer,” he said in 2009. “The way some so-called winning teams play today, it’s all about the players. The managers just focus on not conceding and leave everything up to the players. Guys like [Fabio] Capello and [Jose] Mourinho are hailed as geniuses because they win. Well, they win because they have the best players, not because of what they do. I could put my dead grandfather in charge of their teams and they would still win.”

Exciting times in the Eternal City

Super Mario

GET IN! Forza Azzurri.

Balotelli has once again proved the doubters and the haters wrong. What more does the man have to do so that you will stop pleading for him to be dropped or to change? Never stop Mario. Keep scoring goals like this.